Mew has become better and better day by day with her jump rope skills. With single rope, she has managed to reach 20 successful skips without stop. This afternoon she even made a significant record of 72 consecutive skips for single long rope skipping (2 of us parents held the rope's handle tips), which is really impressive for her age. [Updated on 13 June 2010: Mew managed to achieve 100 consecutive skips, wow!]. I should mention that she has learnt rope skipping mostly by herself without much of help from us since she was 5 years old.
Rope jumping is very beneficial to your kids (and you adults too). Furthermore, it requires nothing more than a jump rope that costs you barely $1 and lasts rather long. It can be either a single- or a multi-player game and is suitable for both outdoor and indoor context.
Rope skipping will directly contribute to maintaining or improving both health related and skill related fitness components. It is often called the most perfect fitness activity available.
Health related fitness benefits include:
- cardiorespiratory endurance
- muscle strength
- muscular endurance
- body composition (lean body mass)
- flexibility
- as a weight bearing activity, builds strong, dense bones (osteoporosis prevention)
Skill related fitness benefits include:
- coordination
- timing and rhythm
- speed
- power
- balance
- agility
Other benefits include:
- easy to learn
- inexpensive activity
- creative
- fun
- enhanced self image
- social skills
Jumping rope takes immense strength, endurance, focus, and patience, and can be much more than a schoolyard game of chanting rhymes.
| Length | Suitable For the height of | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 ft. | up to 4'10" | |||
| 8 ft. | 4'11"-5'3" | |||
| 9 ft. | 5'4"-5'10" | |||
| 10 ft. | 5'11"-6'6" | |||
| 11 ft. | over 6'6" |
To determine the exact length for an individual, stand on the center of the cord.The handle tips should reach your armpits. When you jump over the rope, the rope should just brush the floor beneath your feet. If the cord doesn't touch the floor, the rope is too short. If the cord hits the floor in front of your feet, the rope is too long and should be shortened. The size chart and the individual method are general...optimum rope length ideally depends on how high you hold your arms as you turn the rope with your wrist, thus check where it hits the floor and make any minor adjustments.
Animated demonstrations of skipping skills at all levels can be found here.
